Finger hole liner for bowling ball

ABSTRACT

A pliable plastic liner for a finger hole in a bowling ball is described. The liner is comprised of a rubber-like material, having a Shore hardness of, for example, 65 and is formed into a tube-like member having a wall thickness of about one-eighth of an inch. Circumferentially disposed around the outside of the tube-like member is a key-like ridge that is shaped to lock into a keyway or circumferential groove formed within the finger hole of the bowling ball. To provide an elongated or elliptical hole if the bowler prefers to grip the ball with his fingertips, the liner is formed with a circular hole and the outside wall of the tube-like member has an elliptical cross-section. Then when the liner, being pliable, is inserted within the inherently round finger hole of the bowling ball, the opening in the liner becomes elliptical thereby increasing the bowler&#39;&#39;s control.

ilnited States Patent [191 Bach [111 EJMJW .ian.8,]l974l FINGER HOLE LINER FOR BOWLING BALL [76] Inventor: Burton E. Bach, 1661 Grand Ave.,

Bellflower, Calif. 90706 22 Filed: Aug. 21, 1972 21 App]. No.: 282,890

[52] [1.8. Cl 273/63 A [51] Int. Cl A63b 37/00 [58] Field of Search 273/63, 64, 128

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 626,584 6/1899 Wilmerling 273/63 A 2,273,199 2/1942 Hilton et al.... 273/63 A 2,777,693 1/1957 Mitchell 273/63 A 2,274,522 2/1942 Bomze 273/63 A Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Atr0rney-Dominick Nardelli [5 7] ABSTRACT A pliable plastic liner for a finger hole in a bowling ball is described. The liner is comprised of a rubberlike material, having a Shore hardness of, for example, 65 and is formed into a tube-like member having a wall thickness of about one-eighth of an inch. Circumferentially disposed around the outside of the tube-like member is a key-like ridge that is shaped to lock into a keyway or circumferential groove formed within the finger hole of the bowling ball. To provide an elongated or elliptical hole if the bowler prefers to grip the ball with his fingertips, the liner is formed with a circular hole and the outside wall of the tube-like member has an elliptical cross-section. Then when the liner, being pliable, is inserted within the inherently round finger hole of the bowling ball, the opening in the liner becomes elliptical thereby increasing the bowlers control.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 FINGER HOLE LINER FOR BOWLING BALL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a bowling ball finger hole liner, and more particularly to an economically readily replaceable liner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bowling balls are inherently made of a substantially hard plastic to give it the necessary elasticity to enable it to knock down bowling pins. As everyone knows, bowling balls have one, two or three finger holes to enable the bowler to grip and bowl the ball down the alley. Since the ball is hard, the walls of the finger holes are hard, thereby causing the bowlers finger to develop blisters and, in time, develop calluses. Naturally, blisters are painful and calluses cause the bowler to lose touch with the ball.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide finger holes in bowling balls that are sufficiently soft to prevent blisters and calluses and still allow the bowler to have control of the ball.

Another object is to provide a soft pliable, yieldable liner that can be inserted into a bowling ball finger hole.

Another object is to provide a liner for a bowling ball finger hole that produces an elliptical opening economically.

These and other objects and features of advantages will become more fully understood after studying the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged section, taken on line 11 of FIG. 2 of a partial bowling ball, and through one of the finger holes, that includes the novel liner incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a part of the bowling ball, looking down into the finger hole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top or plan view of the liner of FIG. 2 removed from the ball.

FIG. 4 is an elevation of the liner removed from the finger hole.

FIG. 5 is a top view of another embodiment ofa liner that could be inserted into a finger hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a portion of a bowling ball 11 in cross-section, a full view ofa bowling ball is not shown due to its simplicity and the fact that it is understood by everyone. The section is taken through a finger hole 12 in the ball that is drilled in a standard manner into the ball 11, thereby the hole 12 in the ball is inherently cylindrical. Within the hole 12 is placed a liner 13 being of a pliable resilient rubberlike material, having a shore hardness of between 62 and 66 shores, preferably around 65 shores. As shown, liner 13 is tubular to provide an opening 14 into which the bowler can insert one of his fingers. The liner 13, being soft, deflects to conform better to the shape of the finger, thereby providing more bearing surface between the finger and the liner, and consequently preventing blisters and calluses. The liner 13 is not too soft, whereby the bowler has difficulty with removing this finger after making a swing with his arm. Although I have specified that the shore hardness of the liner should be preferably between 62 and 66 shores, one can deviate considerably from this shore hardness and still find advantages in my invention. For example, a completely hard material, such as that which the bowling ball is made of, has still utility for some bowlers because they do not use any type of liners. To insure that liner 13 remains within the holes 12 a circumferential key or ridge 16 (better shown in FIG. 4) is formed integral therewith. The ridge 16 fits into a circumferential keyway or groove 17 machined in a standard manner within the cylindrical wall of hole 12.

The opening 14 can be made either elliptical as shown in FIG. 2, or round as shown in FIG. 5. In order to make the opening 14 round, one would machine the exterior of the liner into a cylinder as shown by liner 13b in FIG. 5. The opening 14 is also drilled round. The ridge 16 is also machined on the outside of the liner 13b, in order to retain this liner within the finger hole. Then when one inserts liner 13b into a round hole, the opening 14 remains round. To make the opening 14 elliptical, as shown in FIG. 2, the liner, such as liner 13a in FIG. 3, is machined with an elliptical exterior. The opening 14 is drilled round. The ridge 16 is also machined on the outside of liner l3 and is consequently also elliptical. A machinist would find it very difficult to drill an opening 14 in the liner 13 elliptical, but forming an elliptical exterior surface is much simpler.

I l have discovered that by making the exterior elliptical and the interior round, the pliable liner, when inserted in a round hole, does provide an elliptical opening, as shown in FIG. 2.

One can see that the teachings herein provide a liner for a bowling ball finger hole that is soft and pliable, comfortable, does not cause the finger to stick in the finger hole and is securely locked within the finger hole. The opening in the liner can be either round or elliptical. After reading this disclosure, one skilled in the art can devise other embodiments of the invention. Therefore the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment, but includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a bowling ball having at least one cylindrical finger hole, and

a soft, pliable, rubber-like tubular liner disposed within said hole,

said liner having an axial bore that is elliptical in cross-section.

2. A tubular liner adapted to be used within a bowling balls cylindrical finger hole, said liner having an axial bore and being made of a soft, pliable, rubber-like material, said bore being round in cross-section, and an exterior surface on said liner shaped to have an elliptical form.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein locking means are provided between the bowling ball and said liner.

4. The liner of claim 2, wherein locking means are provided on said liner to lock said liner into a finger hole on a bowling ball. 

1. In combination a bowling ball having at least one cylindrical finger hole, and a soft, pliable, rubber-like tubular liner disposed within said hole, said liner having an axial bore that is elliptical in crosssection.
 2. A tubular liner adapted to be used within a bowling ball''s cylindrical finger hole, said liner having an axial bore and being made of a soft, pliable, rubber-like material, said bore being round in cross-section, and an exterior surface on said liner shaped to have an elliptical form.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein locking means are provided between the bowling ball and said liner.
 4. The liner of claim 2, wherein locking means are provided on said liner to lock said liner into a finger hole on a bowling ball. 